Stepladder



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April 12.1927. 1,624,569

- 8. E. WILLETT v STEPLADDER File'd Sept. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Shast INVENTOR- BENED/(TE WILLA T7:

F E m 9 l 4 ATTQORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES BENEDICT E. VJILLETT, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

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Application filed September 12, 1924. Serial No. 737,289.

This invention relates to step ladders and one object of the invention is to provide a step ladder, having a workplatform, which will be of a very strong rugged construction and which can be produced at arelatively low cost., 7 p

A further object of the invention is to provide such a ladder in which the work platform will fold when the ladder is collapsed, and in which theladder will be rigidly held in its extended position so that it cannot be accidentaly collapsed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a ladder with a suppl mental platform which will fold with the main platform when the ladder is collapsed.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a front elevation of the upper portion of a ladder embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4a is a rear elevation ofthe ladder; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the platform in plan; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the main platform and the supplemental platform; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the ladder showing the same collapsed.

In these drawings I have illustrated on embodiment, of my invention and have shown the ladder as comprising a front or step frame and a rear or supporting frame, the two frames being pivotally connected at their upper ends. The front frame comprises side members 1 connected one to the other by steps 2, The side members extend upwardly for' 'some distanceabove the top step 2 and the upper ends thereof are curved upwardly and rearwardly. The rear frame consists of side members 3 which are connected and braced one against the other by transverse bars 4 and 5 and these rear frame members are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the upper rear ends of the side members of the front frame. The transverse brace members 4 and 5 are rigidly secured to the respective side members 3 by means of angle plates or 'gussets 6 which, in the present instance, are seated in slots or recesses-in the respective side members and in the brace bars. The upper brace bar d is further connected with the respective side.

ing the two side members and this member is here shown as a platform 9 and has rigidly secured thereto, near the respective ends thereof, depending brackets or plates 10 which are rigidly secured to the respective side members 1 of the frontframe, each plate, in the present instance, being inserted in a slot formed in the end of the frame member and secured therein by rivets. The

side members 3 of the rear frame are connected with this bracket by means of bolts ll which extend through theadjacent side members of the front and rear frames and through the brackets 10. Preferably the upper ends of the side members 3 of the rear frame are reinforced by metal plates 12 which are inserted in slots in the upper ends thereof. v

The ladder is provided with a. work platform v21 on which the operator may stand .and this platform is preferably arranged substantially in the plane of the top step 2 of the front frame, and pivotally connected with the front frame at its forward edge while its rear edge is arranged to rest upon a suitable support carried by the rear frame,

such asthe upper brace bar 4L. Preferably the platform comprises rigid side members, such as angle bars 13 and these bars are pivotally connected at their forward ends with brackets l t-rigidly secured to the respective side members of the front frame and extending rearwardly therefrom so that the axis about which the platform moves is in the The angle bars rear of the side members 1. 13 of the platform are of such a length that when the ladder is in its extended position they will overlap the side members 3 of the rear frame and will rest upon the supporting member or brace bar 4, thus providing a very strong rigid support for the platform. The platform is connected with the rear frame by means of links which are so ar- ;its upper end with a cross member connectill] ranged with relation. to the platform that they will constitute toggles which will loch the ladder in its extended position. in the present construction a linl; is pivot-ally connected at its. rear end with each side member of the rear frame, the connection being preferably made with the vertical portion of the L-shaped bracket '7, as shown at 16. The forward end of each link is pi\'- otally connected with the corresponding side bar .1515 of the platform at a point spaced from the rear end of that bar. It will be noted that the points of comicction of the links to the rear frame are above the support for the platform and consequently the points of piovtal connection of the links with the platform will lie below a plane extending through the pivotal center of the platform and the rear pivotal connections o f the links, thereby positively locking the frames in their extended positions until upward movement has been imparted to the platform. Consequently it is impossible to collapse the ladder by pushing the same over the floor or by any undue thrust or weight to which it may be subjected. it the same time the ladder may be quickly and easily ctilldpsbtl. by merely thrusting the platform upwardly a distance sullicient to break the toggle and then moving one frame toward the other.

l have also provided the ladder with a supplemental platform 17 which is so connected therewith that it will fold with the main platform when the ladder is collapsed. "he supplemental platform also preferably comprises rigid side members, such as angle bars 18 and these bars are pivotally connected at their forward ends with brackets 19,

rigidly secured to the respective side meinbers of the front frame, on an axis just in the rear of said side members. The rear endsof the bars l8 are connected with the main platform by means of inlis Qt) which serve to support the rear end of the supplemcnlal platform on the main platform and which will serve to more the supplemental platform about its axis when the main plat form is moved about its axis. Consequently when the main platform elevated to break the toggle and the ladder is collapsed the simplemcntal platform will be folded along with the main platform. as shown in F i Q. 7,

without additional effort on the part of the operator. This sumilcmental platform is of a very strong rigid character and may be used either as a work supporter as a supplemental step on which the ope water may stand.

ll hilc I. have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to he umlcrstood that I. do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may appear to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A step ladder comprising a front frame and a rear frame pivotally connected one to the other at their upper ends, a platform pivotaily mounted on the front friuue at a point below the upper end thereof, a supporting; member carried by the rear frame to support the rear end of said platform, and a link connecting raid. platform with said rear frame and arranged to forn'i a toggle to lock said frames in their extended positions.

2. A step ladder con'iprising a. front frame and a rear frame pivotally connected one with the other, brackets rigidly secured to the front frame and extending rcarwardly there from, a. platform pivotally mounted on said brackets. a. supporting member carried by said rear frame to engage the rear end of said platform and support the smile in a substantially horizontal. position when said frames are in their extended positions, links pimtally connected with said rear frame above said supporting member and pivotally connected at their forward ends with the respective lateral edges of said platform at points between the front and rear ends thereof.

3. A step ladder comprising a main frame and a roar frame pivotally connected one to the other at their upper ends, a main platform pivotally mounted on said main frame at a point below the upper end thereof, a supporting i'nen'iber carried by the frame to support the rear end of said platform, said rear end of said platform being vertically movable with relation to said rear frame, a supplemental platform arranged between said front and rear frames and pivotally mounted at its front end on said front frame above said mainplatform, and a sup porting device connected with the rear end of said supplemental platform and with said main frame to support the rear end of said supplemental platform on said main platform.

at. A step ladder comprising a front frame and a rear frame pivotally connected one to the other at their upper ends, a main platform pivotally mounted on the front frame at a point below the upper end thereof, a supporting member carried by the rear frame to support the rear end of said platform. said rear end of said platform being vertically movable with relation to said rear frame, brackets rigidly secured to said front frame at points above said platform, a supplemental platform arranged between said front and rear frames, and pivotally connected at its forwarrtl end with said brackets, links pivotally connected at their upper ends with said supplen'iental platform and pivotally mounted at their lower ends on said Lit) main platform and serving to support the rear end of said supplemental platform on said main platform.

5. In a step ladder, a front frame comprising side members having their upper ends extending rearwardly, a rear frame comprising side members pivotally con nected at their upper ends to the respective side members ofrthe front frame, a platform pivotally mounted on the side members of the frontframe on an axis arranged in the rear of said side members, a cross bar rigidly secured to said rear frame and forming a support for the rear end of said platform, links pivotally mounted on the respective side members of the rear frame above said cross bar and pivotally connected at their forward ends with said platform between the front and rear ends thereof.

6. In a step ladder, a front frame comprising side members having their upper ends extending rearwardly, a rear frame comprising side members pivo'tally connected at their upper ends to the respective side members of the front frame, a platform pivotally mounted on the side members of the front frame on an axis arranged in the rear of said side members, a supporting bar extending between the side members of said rear frame, L-shaped brackets having their vertical portions secured to the respective side members of the rear frame and having their horizontal portions secured to said cross bar, said cross bar and said brackets forming a support for the rear end of said platform when the ladder is in its extended position, links pivotally mounted at their rear ends on the vertical portions of said brackets above said cross bar and pivotally connected at their forward ends with the respective lateral. 40

edges of said platform at points between the front and rear ends thereof.

7. In a step ladder, a front frame comprising side members having their upper ends extending rearwardly, a rear frame comprising side members pivotally connected at their upper ends to the respective side members of the front frame, a platform pivotally mounted on the side members of the front frame on an axis arranged in the rear of said side members, a supporting bar extending between the side members of said rear frame, L-shaped brackets having their vertical portions secured to the respective side members of the rear frame and having their horizontal portions secured to said cross bar, said cross bar and said brackets forming a support for the rear end of said platform when the ladder is in its extended position, links pivotally mounted at their rear ends on the vertical portions of said brackets above said cross bar and pivotally connected at their forward ends with the respective lateral edges of said platform at points between the front and rear ends thereof, a supplemental platform pivotally mounted on the side members of said front frame above the first mentioned platform and on an axis in the rear of said side members, links pivotally connected to the respective lateral edges of said supplemental platform near the rear end thereof and pivotally connected to the respective lateral edges of the first mentioned platform at points spaced from the rear ends thereof.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

BENEDICT E. WILLETT. 

